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Trichodermaspfor Organic Production of Tomatoes

The Advanced Seed Research and Biotech Centre has been working with ACI Crop Care and Public Health to develop a bio-pesticide using Trichoderma sp. To understand the efficacy of the fungus, field trials were practiced on 4 varieties of tomato which were either developed or in developing stage, by the ASRBC. These include ACI Cherry Tomato 1, ASRBC Tomato Line 1, ASRBC Tomato Line 2 and ASRBC Tomato Line 3.

All four varieties are susceptible to Fusarium wilt at different levels and usually chemical fungicides are used to control the disease. Trichoderma collected locally and purified by ASRBC had shown an efficient bio-control effect against Fusarium in the laboratory. To test the product in the field, trials were conducted at the Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University during the winter season of 2017. Apart from the nutrients added during soil preparation, Trichoderma was sprayed on the plants, twice during the life cycle, instead of any chemical fungicides available in the market.Results proved that the fungus actually makes the tomato plants tolerant to Fusarium wilt, while acting as a growth promoter as well. Pesticides formulated with Trichodermasp of a specific race can successfully be used for organic farming in Bangladesh, making food safer from toxic chemicals. This will also reduce the production cost. At the moment, ACI is taking steps to produce both liquid and powder formulations of this bio-control agent.